Sports: SMU, Navy to battle for inaugural Gansz Trophy

The SMU and Navy Athletic Departments have announced the creation of the Gansz Trophy (left), a traveling prize that honors the late coaching legend Frank Gansz. The trophy will be awarded to the winner of future SMU-Navy football games; the Mustangs and Midshipmen will battle for the trophy for the first time on Oct. 17 in Dallas.

Gansz, who was considered perhaps the top special teams coach in NFL history, spent time at both SMU and the U.S. Naval Academy. He was starting his second season as special teams coach on the Hilltop when he passed away on April 27, 2009. Gansz played center and linebacker for Navy from 1957 to 1959 and graduated in 1960. He also spent four seasons as a Navy assistant coach (1969-72). Read more.